Portable shelter.



C. C. JHITTIM.

PORTABLE SHELTER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10. $917.

Pacentarl Mar. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR ATTOR EY C C: CHITTII'VI.

PORTABLE SHELTER.

APPLICATlOH FILED 001.10. 1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES v ATTORNEY C. C. CHITTIM.

PORTABLE SHELTER.

APPUCATION mso OCT. 10. 1911.

1.;2595 80 Mai. 12,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY C. C. CHITTIM.

WRTABLE SHELTER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. WISH 8 1 W4 2 m 11 H 14 as Mm flu m4 w a P \NVENTOR C. CZzZ'ZZ-E'IH,

Caz-Z WlTNESSES ATTORNEY sides in providing a collapsible framework CARL C. CHI'ITIM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ROY SULLENS, OF S?RINGFIELD, MISSOURI PORTABLE SHELTER.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Application flledbetober 10, 1917. Serial No. 195,771.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL O. Cm'r'rIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Shelters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable shelters, having for itsprimary object to generally simplify and improve the construction of devices of this character, as well as to increase their efliciency.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved portable shelter apparatus which has its supporting members so constructed and arranged as to be capable of being collapsed when not in use or when in transit, so as to occupy but a small amount of space.

A still further object of the invention refor the support of cots which shall be of simple construction and light weight, and yet which shall possess sufficient strength to withstand the strains and pressures to which it will be subjected when in use, which may be readily transported without difliculty from place to place, and which may be set up or taken down at will without the aid of special tools or instruments, and without the exercise of special skill.

Still further objects reside in providing a portable shelter apparatus which will occupy but a small amount of space when set up, and yet which will provide sleeping and sheltering facilities for a relatively great number of people.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective-view of a po'rt-.

able shelter apparatus constructed in accordancmwith the invention and being in set .up position, the cover for the said apparatus being removed,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the improved apparatus, the covering for the same being in section,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the shelter device,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken s'ubstantially upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an end view of the shelter framework in the process of being collapsed,

Fig. 6 i a fragmentary perspective view of the side rails for the improved cots,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which the ridge member is supported upon the end sections,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary 'perspective view, illustrating the manner in which the arms of the canopy frame are connected. 7 Referring now particularly to the drawings, 5 indicates generally the end members for the improved shelter apparatus; each of pivoted at their ends as at 9 to the said uprights, so as to permit of the end members being folded or collapsed. The transverse bars 8 are of a length substantial] eiual to or slightly greater than the widt o Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

a cot, and constitute rests or supports for the ends of the cots. In the present instance the end members 5 are shown as being equipped with three of the lateral bars 8, but it will be understood that a greater or less number of such bars may be employed if desired.

To assist in holding the collapsible end members 5 rigid when in set up position, each of the said members is rovided with a locking bar 10, the same being pivoted as at 11 to the uppermost of the transverse members 8, and being adapted to catch at their opposite ends over a pin or stud 12 projecting outwardly from the lowermost of the transverse members 8. It will be observed that when the end members are in set up position, the transverse supporting a pair of longitud al side rails-13, of shit- Y able length and thickness, And each fef which h s o w d y e tend h jhebk m m r 1 f th ran rse ,b f r 'l 0f. h

j th ft l'hnsv rse bars 8 ppe dges nd edeem. h

vbars Lz bns' itutingg -hel s ,are T provided with 'fre ngfq 5 s ap 1 ex endin eJ-th u" at its .extremi-ties adapt d to nga e. over 1min; e .obs'erWd PM iQula e c 'itoEi Js-Aa difi metall t; libSt-Qlntial'lythe entire-length o fet h'e d i s. i

7 Th inner edges'l of the" uprigh s 6 o ft end members are prpveidd with inw rdly rO eeting vs'tuds or pins 18, ioverwh'ichthe extremitiesof reinforcing bars or brackets 19 engage. These bars 'ere pivpted together as at 20 intermediate their ends, and-each is provided at itsgends with a pivot a-llyreonnected bracing arm 21, adapted to engage over a pin 22 on the upright 6. The reinforcing bracket of this construction holds the end members 51in projp eripositi on, and obviates the J possibility of ebllfapsing 0f the shelter device. A5; the extremitiesef' the arms and bars 2l-v l9,arel hqoked, it'isriOb- ViOl IS that the reinforcingfbrafc'ket ,mayiibe ,rea di ly, japplgi'ed to endrem'oved from the 31 ndsgtelen age over. pins-7161' 1s 1.2 lp i 'n'g butvm t 'ly {if i h said Tilef'ext reme 'ends pf *ftliis "gbar'l 24 ndenghg B i I I beem 'jhe ptglllly secu'red theretoithe ji-nner extra of canopy suppo ting terms ;31. These arms lower end with a. pair of spaced 100p memha ve hingedly co nneeted tgi their inneri faees and intermediate their extremities "the liiher 0 i ne j i its extrem ie li i i ti i'c openings .38 are pr0y1 de91,*the letter M i v d spgijirig tensien lfjzitlh 40 for exerting pnes urenpbn the ra'rr'nslizlito hold the} pihs prp ejrly positioned Within their respeetive w p ynin s; H v .i v v "."A'fri'dge po1e45' epnnects theend members .51 fat/the upper ends bfthe uprights 7 This l'lidgp ol has its extre ities 'p'roavided with v downwardly extending portions 46 adapted t o engage dvlerth pivotal connections ,ofthe 1 roof :b'eams29 and their arms 31. 'The ridge pple' haserranged thereon a plurality of bracing bersor arms 47, the hitter being .pivbted as at 48 tothe' said pole, and being adapted .at theirfo'liter ads to engage over ;,pins 49in theroofibeams 29 and arms 31. By'fproviding the extremitiesfof the ridge .;-p o1e with'downwardly extending portions 46, it is pbvieus that lthe robfbeams 29, arms s-W9 1 "a t e; pp r exu-m ti s f t hts ,7pwill be'held'firmly'in prbperly ss m eda' e i i v 13 iiii fi ii IYWit Q to ,3 in lusi e.ipf-t ldrfl izi'te vcet' v ofithe sh ne m rldlv', xt 'n in r" s n Q Th" firhriernayibe pr t pled? I U pppe f ends;with l.i5,l;;ad ptedt er g ge f e'rt pe of he aliihtirs 8flbfit v, I,

rights, each f the. latter isprovid'ed at. ts

yrious changes in the minor details of conend members 5 are extended and set in upright position and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the cots. These members are then locked against collapsing by the bar 10. The reinforcing bracket 19 ma then be adjusted to the end members to hold the latter the proper distance apart, and the roof beams 29 are then swung upwardly so as to rest at their free ends in the sockets formed between the plates 30 on the upper end of the uprights 7. The longitudinal reinforcing rall 24 may then be adjusted to the frame, and then the cots may be arranged in their proper positions. The swinging awning or canopy support may then be adjusted as desired, and a cover, such as that indicated at in Fig. 3 of the drawings, may be draped over the structure. The occupants of the cots are protected from rain and from the wind, and are assured comfortable beds. By removing the uppermost cot, the middle cot may be used as a lounge or couch. When it is desired to take down the shelter, the cots may be detached and rolled up, whereupon the various parts separate from the main structure may be removed and stored. The end members may then be collapsed by folding the uprights over one upon the other, the

pivots 9 for the lateral members Permitting of this movement of the vertical members.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that I have provided a sleeping shelter which isv extremely simple in construction and which may be manufactured at low cost. The simplicity of the structure permits of the same being readily assembled and collapsed when required, and when in the latter condition may be easily transportedfrom place to place.

While the present is a disclosure of what is believed to be the preferred embodiment,

of the invention, it is to be understood that the inyention is not limited thereto, as vastruction, proportion, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to if deslred without departing from the spirit of the invention its as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a pair of end members each comprising a pair of uprights, transverse rails pivotally connecting said uprights, a locking bar pivoted on one rail of said end members and being adapted at its free end to lock with another of said rails, and a ridge pole connecting said end members.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of end members each comprising a pair of uprights, a roof beam pivoted at one end to one of sa d uprights and being adapted to rest upon the other upright, a ridge pole connecting said end members, and locking means for holding said ridge pole to said roof beams.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of end members each comprising a pair, of uprights, a roof beam pivoted at one end to one of said uprights and being adapted to rest upon the other upright, a ridge pole connecting said end members and resting upon said roof beams, and means for locking said ridge pole to said roof beams.

and a longitudinal brace detachably connecting the said members at their opposite sides.

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of end members each comprising a pair of uprights, transverse bars connecting the uprights of each pair, a plurality of cots each having a pair of longitudinal rails, and

hooks at the ends of said rails adapted to engage over the said transverse bars.

7. In a device of the class described, a pair of end members each comprising a pair of uprights, transverse bars connecting the uprights of each pair and each of said bars having notches in their upper edges and near the ends thereof, a plurality of cots each having a pair of longitudinal rails and hooks on the ends of said rails adapted to rest in said notches.

8. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame having spaced horizontally disposed rails each having notches in their upper edges and at the ends thereof, cots adapted to be supported at their ends upon said rails, each cot comprising a pair of longitudinal side bars, a hook on each end of said bar. adapted to rest in said notches. and a fabric connecting the rails of each cot.

9. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame having spaced end members, a plurality of collapsible cots suspended between said members, a collapsible roof section removably secured over said frame, a

: movab 1l'y secured to the'latterg 1Q. af de vice of. theiclgis s described, a P endim m s c j mp l m 1 1 1 z p 9BdMp igl1tS, r in i e s p vlo ly'. co hljneciiiig Said" uprights and each lia'ving; Spice nq ches iliw upp ed e n fi'S dL-Z "inflg' ohgr. fed". at, one. i v u i h s," n' i p rfiingi h aid? ee iainif upri ht lf? eel h nd hie hb than he o h r; a; of beam. p1 endltg'each!of;the shQii estgofzsg MIST AVAILABLE CUPY upon the upper extremity of, the longesfi fsaid uprights, a covenfame pivotediqtlie S ItiOH, CO II1i0Cting m mber for the" Said erjljd, members, andcots each having lo gitudinal? In t estitnbny whereof I; uffix-my signature by new: t is 'acqwma sibma a29cm 

